Middle Atlas, Morocco) 2

Flora of the biological and ecological interest site (BEIS) of Tichoukt mountain (middle atlas, Morocco) 2

Soumis le : 19/03/2014 Forme révisée acceptée le : 28/ 06/2015 Nature & Technology Auteur correspondant :

Flora of the biological and ecological interest site (BEIS) of Tichoukt mountain (middle atlas, Morocco)

Mohammed Sghir Taleb and Mohamed Fennane

Institut Scientifique, Université Mohammed V-Agdal, B.P. 703, Rabat, 10106 Maroc

Abstract

The work deals with floristic diversity and chorology of taxa present in the Biological and Ecological Interest Site (BEIS) of Tichoukt mountain (Middle Atlas, Morocco). Tichoukt mountain is covered by three main kinds of ecosystems : • Forest and matorral ecosystems: dominant species are Quercus rotundifolia (holm oak), Cedrus atlantica (cedar of Atlas), Juniperus phoenicea (red juniper), J. thurifera (thuriferous juniper) , J. communis subsp. hemisphaerica (common juniper), Berberis hispanica, Crataegus laciniata. • Spiny xerophytic ecosystem with Cytisus balansae, Bupleurum spinosum, Erinacea anthyllis, Alyssum spinosum ... • Rocky (or rupicolous) ecosystem with Ephedra major , Lonicera pyrenaica , Rhamnus atlantica , Globularia liouvillei , Saxifraga longifolia , Aethionema saxatile ... The flora is valued at more than 184 species with a remarkable number of rare, threatened and / or endemic species. To give an overview on the flora distribution in the BEIS, localities of species sampled are provided with detailled geographical coordinates for the endemic and/or rare ones.

Keywords: Flora, Tichoukt mountain, Biological and Ecological Interest Site, Morocco.

1. Introduction species observed are listed as well as those cited in this Following a national study on protected areas in region by the "Flore vasculaire du Maroc: inventaire Morocco [1], Tichoukt mountain were selected by the et chorologie" [2,3]. ministry of water and forest as a Biological and Ecological Interest Site (BEIS) that needs urgent In this paper, we present, for the first time, the whole protection measures. According to this study, vascular flora of Tichoukt mountain with informations Tichoukt mountain is one of 154 terrestrial BEIS on the chorological aspect. Endemic and/or rare taxa identified in the whole country ; its main peculiarities are mentioned. are the presence of : Beside scientific interest, the main aim of this work is • Continental forest of Cedrus atlantica, to gather maximum of informations on floristic unfortunatly very degraded. diversity and originalities in order to help decision • Some stations of Juniperus communis , very rare makers for exploitation, conservation and protection species in Morocco, also currently degraded and issues. fragmented populations. • Many endemic and remarkable species (see 2. Material and Method below). Exhaustive sampling has permitted to develop a fairly Tichoukt mountain is located between the Central complete list of vascular plants for the first time. All and Eastern parts of Middle Atlas (Fig. 1). It culminates at 2787 m with a ridge line that remains above the 2400 m over most of its length. The Guigou

Revue « Nature & Technologie ». C- Sciences de l'Environnement, n° 15/ Juin 2016. Pages 02 à 13 3 Flora of the biological and ecological interest site (BEIS) of Tichoukt mountain (middle atlas, Morocco) river delimits the BEIS to the north with the 3. Results depressions of the Tarhroute basin and Skoura. According to climate data of Boulmane, Tichoukt 3.1. vegetation survey mountain receives an average of over 470 mm of rain. Average temperatures do not exceed 20°C, while Due to its geographical position,Tichoukt mountain is minimum temperatures can reach -5°C in winter. submitted to both influences: wet from Western and Bioclimates are semi-arid and subhumid. The Northern and dry from East and South [7]; vegetation belts are montagnard mediterranean and consequently, it shows a rich flora (184 taxa) observed oromediterranean [4]. in three main kinds of ecosystems: The field sampling was oriented in order to cover all • Forest and matorral ecosystems (Fig. 2), organised kind of vegetation represented in the map "Carte by one or more of the following species: Cedrus phytoécologique du Moyen Atlas central" of Lecompte atlantica , Quercus rotundifolia, Juniperus phoenicea, [6] ; for each ecosystem, the floristic surveys were J. thurifera, J. communis, Buxus balearica, Taxus spread over a maximum number of different stations baccata, Berberis hispanica, Crataegus laciniata . depending on the altitude, exposure and soil. Taxa listed below were noted and/or collected during three field trips: two in spring of year 2008 and one in the same season in 2009. Informations on endemism and rarity of taxa come from the "Catalogue des plantes vasculaires rares, menacées ou endémiques du Maroc" [7]. : Abbreviations are as following

• E: Endemic to Morocco • A: Endemic to Morocco and Algeria • I: Endemic to Morocco and Iberian Peninsula • V: Vulnerable in Morocco • R: Rare in Morocco • R?: Suspected rare in Morocco • RR: Very rare in Morocco Fig. 2: Cedar forest • RR?: Suspected very rare in Morocco • Spiny xerophytic ecosystem (Fig. 3) with Cytisus Species abundance in the area of Tichoukt BEIS is balansae , Bupleurum spinosum, Erinacea anthyllis, expressed in three categories: Alyssum spinosum . The main association described (a): Abundant here is Avenastro filifolii-Erinaceetum anthyllidis [4]. (b): Moderately abundant (c): Rare to very rare.

Fig. 3: Spiny xerophytic ecosystem

• Rocky ecosystems (Fig. 4) with Juniperus communis, Ephedra major, Lonicera pyrenaica, Rhamnus atlantica and others more alticoles like Globularia liouvillei, Saxifraga longifolia, Aethionema saxatile

Fig. 1: Location of the study area

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Geropogon hybridus (L.) Sch. Bip. (c) Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata ecosystem. Pilosella pseudopilosella (Ten.) Sojàk R? (c) ● E Spiny xerophytic and common juniper ecosystems; above 2 100 m. Hypochoris laevigata (L.) Ces. & al. (c) Rocky ecosystem from 2400 m. Jurinea humilis (Desf.) DC. (b) Spiny xerophytic and common juniper ecosystems; rare in the cedar ecosystem; from 2200 m. Lactuca saligna L. (b)

Holm oak ecosystem. Fig. 4: Rocky ecosystem Lactuca viminea (L.) J. Presl & C. Presl (c) Spiny xerophytic ecosystem. The flora and ecosystems of Tichoukt are submitted to Rhodanthemum arundanum (Boiss.) B. H. Wilcox & al. high natural constraints (climate stress, parasites (b) attack,...) and anthropozoic pressure (overgrazing, Spiny xerophytic ecosystem. overexploitation of wood product, illegal clearing of Micropus supinus L. (b) woodlands, ...). Thus, many ecosystems are in Red juniper ecosystem; holm oak ecosystem with advanced state of deterioration such as cedar, Buxus balearica . thuriferous and common juniper. Onopordum acaulon L. (b) Holm oak, cedar and spiny xerophytic ecosystems. I- Flora Pallenis spinosa (L.) Cass. (b) Lower sides. Asteraceae Phagnalon rupestre (L.) DC. (b) Achillea santolinoides Lag. (c) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Red juniper ecosystem. Scolymus hispanicus L. (b) Artemisia herba alba Asso (c) Lower sides of clearings in the holm oak with Buxus holm oak and red juniper ecosystems, isolated places, balearica and red juniper. up to 2000 m. Scorzonera caespitosa Pomel (a) Atractylis caespitosa Desf. (c) Spiny xerophytic, thuriferous and common juniper Holm oak ecosystem, lower north side. ecosystems. Bellis sylvestris Cirillo (c) Taraxacum obovatum (Willd.) DC. (c) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica, 1650 m Spiny xerophytic ecosystem from 2 300 m. (33° 24' 10" x 4° 43' 14") ; dead cedar, 2440 m Xeranthemum inapertum (L.) Miller (b) (33° 23' 20" x 4° 40' 36") ; thuriferous ecosystem, 2300 Holm oak and red juniper ecosystems. m (33° 22' 91" x 4° 40' 68"). Fabaceae Carthamus atractyloides (Pomel) R (b) ●A Anthyllis vulneraria L. RR (c) ●E Cedar, spiny xerophytic and common juniper - subsp. atlantis Emberger & Maire RR ●I ecosystems (33° 22' 94" x 4° 40' 67"), from 2 350 to 2 - subsp. reuteri Cullen RR ●E 600 m. Astragalus armatus Willd. (b) Carthamus pomelianus (Batt.) Prain R? (c) ●A - subsp. numidicus (Murb.) Tietz. Holm oak ecosystem, south side piedmont (33° 21' 54 x South lower sides in Berberis hispanica and Crataegus 4° 39' 58"), 2120 m. laciniata ecosystem and holm oak ecosystem with Carthamus rhaponticoides (Pomel) Greuter (c) Buxus balearica . Cedar ecosystem, southern side (33° 23' 12" x 4° 40' Astragalus incanus L. (c) 39"), 2370 m. Medium altitudes earth soils. Catananche caerulea L. (b) Coronilla minima L. (c) Holm oak with Buxus balearica , cedar, thuriferous - subsp. lotoides (Koch) Nyman and common juniper ecosystems, 2000-2400 m. Cytisus balansae (Boiss.) Ball (a) Cheirolophus benoistii (Humbert) Holub R? (c) ●E - subsp. balansae Holm oak ecosystem, north side. Organizer with other species the spiny xerophytic Centaurea involucrata Desf. (c) ecosystem. South side. Cytisus fontanesii Ball (c) ●IA Cyanus triumfetti (All.) A. Löve & D. Löve RR (c) Erinacea anthyllis Link. (a) spiny xerophytic ecosystem, north side, above 2200 m. - subsp. anthyllis Cirsium odontolepis DC. R (b) Organizer with other species the spiny xerophytic Cedar ecosystem. ecosystem.

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Hedysarum boveanum Bunge ex. Basiner (c) Spiny xerophytic ecosystem. Holm oak ecosystem northern side. Poa bulbosa L. (c) Medicago laciniata (L.) Miller (b) Rocky ecosystems southern side between 2200 and Holm oak with Buxus balearica and red juniper 2300 m. ecosystems Stipa lagascae Roemer & Schultes (c) Medicago suffruticosa DC. in Lam. & DC. (c) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata formation ; Stipa nitens (Ball) Ball (b) ●E mixed formation with holm oak and cedar; very Holm oak ecosystem south side (holm oak with earthy soil; 2050-2450 m. Berberis hispanica , Ribes uva -crispa and Juniperus Ononis cristata Miller (c) thurifera ) 2150 m (33° 22 '84" x 04' 40' 53") 2300 m, Common juniper ecosystem from 2 500 m. rocky and thuriferous ecosystems 2280 m (33 ° 22 '91" Ononis natrix L. (c) x 04 ° 40' 68"), common juniper ecosystem 2490 m (33 Lower side. ° 22' 97" x 04 ° 40' 83") and spiny xerophytic Trifolium humile Ball (c) ●E ecosystem. South side (33° 22' 61" x 04° 40' 49") ; low slope (5 à Stipa apertifolia Martinovsky (b) 10%) ; 2080 m. Cedar ecosystems with Buxus balearica and holm oak. Poaceae Macrochloa tenacissima (L.) Kunth (a) Aegilops neglecta Req. ex Bertol. (b) Holm oak ecosystem, south lower side. Holm oak with Buxus balearica and red juniper Trisetum flavescens (L.) P. Beauv. (b) ecosystems, especially in formations of degradation. Cedar ecosystem with Berberis hispanica , southern Helictotrichon filifolium (Lag.) Henrard (c) side. Spiny xerophytic ecosystem. Vulpia geniculata (L.) Link (a) Helictotrichon sedenense (Clar. ex Lam. & DC.) Holub Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . (c) Caryophyllaceae Rocky ecosystems from 2300 m. Arenaria aggregata (L.) Loisel. RR (c) Avena sterilis L. (c) - subsp. mauritanica (Batt.) Maire RR ●A Holm oak ecosystem. Common juniper ecosystem 2 600 m north side. Anisantha rubens (L.) Nevski (b) Arenaria armerina Bory (c) Holm oak and red juniper ecosystems. Cedar ecosystem, north side to 2 300 m ; spiny Bromus squarrosus L. (b) xerophytic ecosystem to 2 600 m and common juniper Holm oak with Buxus balearica , cedar with Berberis ecosystem 2 500-2 600 m. hispanica , thuriferous, xerophytes and common Arenaria serpyllifolia L. (b) juniper ecosystems. Cedar ecosystem. Anisantha sterilis (L.) Nevski (b) Bufonia tenuifolia L. (b) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica ; formation Cedar ecosystem 2 410 m, thuriferous ecosystem 2 280 with Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata . m and common juniper ecosystem, 2 370 m southern Anisantha tectorum (L.) Nevski (b) side. Holm oak with Buxus balearica and cedar with Cerastium gibraltaricum Boiss. (a) Berberis hispanica ecosystems. Cedar and spiny xerophytic ecosystems. Cynosurus effusus Link (b) Dianthus lusitanus Brot. (b) Holm oak and cedar ecosystems. Holm oak with Buxus balearica and common juniper Dactylis glomerata L. (a) ecosystems. Holm oak with Buxus balearica , cedar, spiny Herniaria hirsuta L. (c) xerophytic and thuriferous ecosystems. Red juniper ecosystem. Dasypyrum breviaristatum (H. Lindb.) Fred. (c) Minuartia verna (L.) Hiern (c) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica, Berberis Holm oak ecosystem. hispanica and Crataegus laciniata ; cedar ecosystem ; Paronychia argentea Lam. (a) spiny xerophytic ecosystem. Red juniper ecosystem and holm oak ecosystem with Hordeum murinum L. (a) Buxus balearica . Red juniper and holm oak ecosystems. Polycarpon polycarpoides (Biv.) Jah. & Maire (b) Koeleria splendens Presl. R (b) Holm oak with Buxus balearica , cedar and spiny Spiny xerophytic and common juniper ecosystems xerophytic ecosystems. from 2500 m. Polycnemum fontanesii Durieu & Moq. (b) Melica humilis Boiss. (b) Red juniper ecosystem with Buxus balearica and Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata . Rosmarinus officinalis ; holm oak ecosystem with Piptatherum caerulescens (Desf.) P. Beauv. (c) Buxus balearica . Cedar ecosystem. Silene mesatlantica Maire (b) ●E Poa alpina L. (c)

Common juniper ecosystem, 2 480 m, (33° 23' 06" x Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica ; red 04° 40' 88"). juniper and Pistacia lentiscus ecosystems lower north Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke (c) side. Degradation formation of Red juniper ecosystem and Thymus willdenowii Boiss. (b) holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Dead cedar ecosystem with Berberis hispanica south Telephium imperati L. (c) side; thuriferous ecosystem with Bupleurum spinosum - subsp. imperati and Alyssum spinosum 2 580 m ; spiny xerophytic Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata ecosystem. ecosystem north side 2600 m; common juniper Lamiaceae (Labiatae ) ecosystem. Ajuga iva (L.) Schreber (b) Thymus atlanticus (Ball) Roussine (a) ●E Cedar ecosystem. Spiny xerophytic ecosystem south side. Lamium amplexicaule L. (b) Brassicaceae Mixed formation of holm oak and cedar ; holm oak Aethionema saxatile (L.) R. Br. (c) ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Spiny xerophytic ecosystem south side; rock 2250 m, Marrubium ayardii Maire (b) ●E southern side 2 250 m; common juniper ecosystem. Cedar ecosystem with Berberis hispanica, southern Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L., Gard. (c) side, 2 360 m (33° 22' 51" x 04°40' 14"). Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Marrubium multibracteatum Humbert & Maire R (b) Alyssum serpyllifolium Desf. (c) ●E Spiny xerophytic ecosystem ; holm oak ecosystem with Cedar ecosystem, southern side, 2 220 m (33°22' 91" x Buxus balearica . 04° 40' 54") ; Berberis hispanica and Crataegus Alyssum spinosum L. (a) laciniata ecosystem, 2 100 m ; xerophyte ecosystem Cedar, xerophyte, thuriferous and common juniper (33° 22' 61" x 04° 40' 49") from 2 100 m ; thuriferous ecosystems. ecosystem. Arabis alpina L. (c) Marrubium vulgare L. (b) Spiny xerophytic ecosystem. Holm oak with Buxus balearica and red juniper Arabis auriculata Lam. (b) ecosystems. Cedar and holm oak ecosystems. Mentha pulegium L. (b) Draba hispanica Boiss., Elench. (c) Pistacia lentiscus formation, lower northern side. - subsp. hispanica Nepeta amethystina Poiret in Lam. (c) ● IA Rocky ecosystems high southern side from 2300 m. Holm oak ecosystem lower southern side. Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav., Descr. (c) Rosmarinus officinalis L. (b) Holm oak ecosystem. Red juniper ecosystem lower northern side. Erucastrum leucanthum Cosson & Durieu (c) Salvia phlomoides Asso (c) Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata ecosystem. North side. Erysimum incanum G. Kunze (c) Salvia verbenaca L. (b) Thuriferous and spiny xerophytic ecosystems. Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Isatis tinctoria L. (b) Satureja alpina (L.) Scheele (c) Cedar-holm oak mixed formation. Dead cedar ecosystem with Berberis hispanica, Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. (c) southern side 2470 m. Spiny xerophytic ecosystem. Sideritis incana L. (c) Raffenaldia primuloides Godron (c) - subsp. matris-filiae (Emberger & Maire) M. Fennane Spiny xerophytic ecosystem. Rocky ecosystems, southern side 2 500 m ; rocks Raphanus raphanistrum L. (c) northern side 2610 m; dead cedar ecosystem, 2580 m. - subsp. raphanistrum Sideritis montana L. (c) Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata ecosystems. - subsp. ebracteata (Asso) Murb. Rosaceae Teucrium chamaedrys L. (c) Amelanchier ovalis Medik, Gesch. Bot.: 79. 1793. R (c) Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata ecosystems ●I ; cedar ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Rocky ecosystems, southern side to 2250 m. Teucrium fruticans L. (c) Cotoneaster nummularia Fisch. & C. A. Meyer (b) Holm oak ecosystem southern sides. Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Teucrium musimonum Humbert (b) ●E Crataegus laciniata Ucria (a) Rocky ecosystems southern sides 2300 m (33° 23' 12" x Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica , Berberis 04° 40' 00") ; thuriferous ecosystem. hispanica and Crataegus laciniata south side. Teucrium polium L. (b) Prunus prostrata Labill. (a) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica and red Cedar, spiny xerophytic, thuriferous and common juniper ecosystem. juniper ecosystems. Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reuter (b) Rosa canina L. (b)

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Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata ecosystems. Plantaginaceae Rosa sicula Tratt. (b) Plantago albicans L. (b) Cedar ecosystem with Buxus balearica ; dead cedar Red juniper lower northern side. ecosystem with Berberis hispanica ; spiny xerophytic Plantago coronopus L. (c) and common juniper ecosystems. Cedar-holm oak mixed formation. Rubus ulmifolius Schott (c) Plantago afra L. Near streams. Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica ; Berberis Sanguisorba minor Scop. (b) hispanica and Crataegus laciniata ecosystem. Common juniper ecosystem. Apiaceae Scrophulariaceae Bupleurum fruticescens L. (a) Linaria simplex (Willd.) DC. in Lam. & DC. (c) ●I(A?) - subsp. spinosum (Gouan) O. Bolos & Vigo Spiny xerophytic ecosystem. = Bupleurum spinosum Gouan Linaria tristis (L.) Miller (b) Spiny xerophytic ecosystem northern and southern Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica ; rocky sides. ecosystems 2300 m ; dead cedar ecosystem ; Eryngium bourgatii Gouan (c) thuriferous and spiny xerophytic ecosystems. Spiny xerophytic, thuriferous and common juniper Nanorrhinum heterophyllum (Schousboe) Ghebr. (c) ecosystems. Cedar-holm oak mixed ecosystem. Pimpinella tragium Vill. (c) Scrophularia laevigata Vahl (b) - subsp. lithophila (Schischk.) Tutin Rocky ecosystems, north side. = P. lithophila Schischk. Cistaceae Spiny xerophytic ecosystem. Cistus clusii Dunal in DC. (b) Globulariaceae Red juniper ecosystem, lower southern side. Globularia alypum L. (b) Fumana thymifolia (L.) Webb. (b) Red juniper ecosystem with Rosmarinus officinalis and Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Helianthemum cinereum (Cav.) Pers. (b) Globularia liouvillei Jah. & Maire R(c) ●E Red juniper ecosystem ; holm oak ecosystem with Rocky ecosystems, southern side 2 300 m (33° 23' Buxus balearica ; cedar ecosystem with Buxus 12" x 04° 40' 00"), 2 450 m (33° 22' 28" x 04° 40' 46"), balearica ; degraded thuriferous ecosystem. 2 500 m (33° 23' 04" x 04° 40' 10"), 2 600 m (33° 23' Helianthemum croceum (Desf.) Pers. (b) 34" x 04° 39' 50"). Berberis hispanica and Crataegus laciniata ecosystem; Globularia nainii Batt (b) ●E cedar ecosystem with holm oak ; cedar ecosystem with Holm oak ecosystem, north side 1 670 m (33° 23' 58", Berberis hispanica ; xerophyte ecosystem; common 04° 42' 23"); rocky ecosystem, north side 2210 m. juniper ecosystem. Saxifragaceae Helianthemum pergamaceum Pomel (b) Ribes uva-crispa L. (b) Pistacia lentiscus ecosystem; red juniper ecosystem; Spiny xerophytic, cedar, thuriferous and common holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . juniper ecosystems, southern and northern sides from Cupressaceae 2360 m. Juniperus communis L. RR (b) Saxifraga dichotoma Willd. RR(c), ●IA - subsp. hemisphaerica (C. Presl) Nyman RR High north side. High southern and northern sides. Saxifraga longifolia Lapeyr. RR (c) Juniperus oxycedrus L. (b) Rocky ecosystems of the southern side in xerophyte Red juniper, holm oak and cedar ecosystems. area (33° 22' 91" x 04° 40' 54"). Juniperus phoenicea L. (a) Rubiaceae Lower north side. Asperula hirsuta Desf. (b) Juniperus thurifera L. V (b) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . - subsp. africana (Maire) Gauquelin & al. V, ●A Callipeltis cucullaria (L.) Steven (c) High southern side. Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica ; cedar Oleaceae ecosystem. Fraxinus dimorpha Cosson & Durieu (b) Geraniaceae Red juniper ecosystem; holm oak ecosystem with Geranium molle L. (a) Buxus balearica . Holm oak ecosystem. Jasminum fruticans L. (c) Liliaceae Rocky ecosystems southern side. Asphodelus ramosus L. Olea europaea L. (c) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Red juniper ecosystem. Lapiedra martinezii Lag. RR(c) ●I Phillyrea angustifolia L. (b) Spiny xerophytic ecosystem, south side. Red juniper and Pistacia lentiscus ecosystems. Linaceae

Linum austriacum L. (c) Solanaceae Spiny xerophytic ecosystem, south side. Verbascum simplex Hoffm. & Link (b) Linum suffruticosum L. (b) Red juniper ecosystem, north side and holm oak Spiny xerophytic ecosystem, south side. southern and northern sides. Rhamnaceae Violaceae Rhamnus lycioides L. Viola maroccana Maire R? (c) ●E - subsp. atlantica (Murb.) Jah. & Maire (b) Thuriferous ecosystem 2 280m (33° 22' 91" x 04° 40' Rocky ecosystem, southern side. 68") ; spiny xerophytic ecosystem 2 240-2 500 m (33° Rhamnus pumila Turra (c) 23' 31" x 04° 40' 39") ; common juniper ecosystem Rocky ecosystems, high south side 2 640 m. 2 370 m (33° 23' 94" x 04° 40' 67") and 2 430 m (33° Ranunculaceae 23' 17" x 04° 40' 30"). Delphinium balansae Boiss. & Reuter (c) Thymeleaceae Buxus balearica and Pistacia lentiscus ecosystem lower Daphne laureola L. (c) north side. Cedar and common juniper ecosystems, high north Euphorbiaceae side. Euphorbia megalatlantica Ball (c) ●E Araliaceae Cedar ecosystem with Berberis hispanica , 2 360 m (33° Hedera helix L. (c) 22' 51" x 04° 40' 14"). North side wet rocks. Euphorbia nicaeensis All. (b) Malvaceae Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Malva sylvestris L. (c) Valerianaceae Red juniper ecosystem north side. Centranthus nevadensis Boiss. R (c) Pinaceae Rocky ecosystems, southern side. Cedrus libani A. Richard Valerianella discoidea (L.) Loisel. (c) - subsp. atlantica (Endl.) Batt. & Trabut (a) Rocky ecosystems, southern side. South and north sides. Campanulaceae Arecaceae Campanula filicaulis Durieu in Bory & Durieu (b) Chamaerops humilis L. (c) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica ; spiny Red juniper ecosystem with Rosmarinus officinalis ; xerophytic and common juniper ecosystems. holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica, north side. Legousia falcata (Ten.) Janchen (c) Taxaceae Dead cedar ecosystem with Buxus balearica, south Taxus baccata L. V (c) side. High north side near cliffs. Dipsacaceae Anacardiaceae Lomelosia stellata (L.) Rafin. (b) Pistacia lentiscus L. (b) Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Low north side. Ephedraceae Convolvulaceae Ephedra nebrodensis Guss. (b) Convolvulus mazicum Emberger & Maire (b) ●E Rocky ecosystems, from 2200 m. Spiny xerophytic ecosystem, from 2 300 m (33° 23' 05" Fagaceae N x 04° 40' 41" W) ; cedar ecosystem (33° 23' 12" N x Quercus ilex L. (a) 04° 40' 39" W) ; common juniper ecosystem, 2 430 m - subsp. rotundifolia (Lam.) T. Morais (33° 23' 17" N x 04° 40’ 30 W). South and north sides. Plumbaginaceae Buxaceae Armeria ebracteata Pomel RR(c) ●A Buxus balearica Lam. (a) Cedar ecosystem. Holm oak and cedar ecosystems, north and south Primulaceae sides. Anagallis arvensis L. (b) Berberidaceae Holm oak ecosystem with Buxus balearica . Berberis hispanica Boiss. & Reuter (a) Boraginaceae Spiny xerophytic and cedar ecosystems, north and Onosma fastigiata (Br.-Bl.) Lacaita (c) south sides.. Caprifoliaceae 3.2. Discussion and conclusion Lonicera pyrenaica L. (b) - subsp. pyrenaica The list above contains 43 families, 143 genera and Rocky ecosystem, from 2 200 m. 184 species; about 20 others were collected but have Aceraceae not been identified (incomplete specimens). The Acer monspessulanum L. (c) richest families are Asteraceae, Poaceae, - subsp. monspessulanum Caryophyllaceae, Brassicaceae and Fabaceae with High north side, near cliffs. more than 10 species each (Tab. 1). On the other hand,

Revue « Nature & Technologie ». C- Sciences de l'Environnement, n° 15/ Juin 2016. Pages 02 à 13 9 Flora of the biological and ecological interest site (BEIS) of Tichoukt mountain (middle atlas, Morocco)

50% of the families are represented by only one • Carthamus atractyloides: rare, endemic to species and 16% by 2 species. Morocco and Algeria • Carthamus pomelianus : suspected rare, endemic Table 1: Important families in Tichoukt mountain to Morocco and Algeria • Cheirolophus benoistii : suspected rare, endemic Number of species to Morocco Families Tichoukt mountain Morocco • Cirsium odontolepis, Koeleria splendens, Asteraceae 27 550 Centranthus nevadensis : rare • Cytisus fontanesii , Nepeta amethystina : endemic to Poaceae 23 355 Caryophyllaceae 20 204 Morocco, Iberian Peninsula and Algeria Brassicaceae 14 212 • Juniperus thurifera subsp. africana : vulnerable, Fabaceae 13 424 endemic to Morocco and Algeria Rosaceae 8 62 • Cistaceae 5 69 Marrubium multibracteatum, Globularia liouvillei: Cupressaceae 4 6 rare, endemic to Morocco Oleaceae 4 7 • Pilosella pseudopilosella, Viola maroccana : suspected rare, endemic to Morocco • Saxifraga dichotoma : very rare, endemic to Morocco, Iberian Peninsula and Algeria Table 2: Tichoukt flora richness in Morocco • Taxus baccata: vulnerable • Tichoukt Trifolium humile , Stipa nitens , Silene Morocco % mountain mesatlantica , Marrubium ayardii , Teucrium Area 12500 ha 71 500 000 ha 0,02 musimonum , Thymus atlanticus , Euphorbia megalatlantica : endemic to Morocco. Families 43 155 28

Genera 143 981 15 As mentionned before, the high summits of Tichoukt

Species 184 3913 5 are very important at biogegraphical level by offering natural refuge for rare and endemic taxa. Unfortunatly, no quantitative data available about the This inventory is certainly incomplete. More abundance of this important part of flora; much visits to the region could add new taxa ; some further field investigations are still needed in order to interesting cliffs, very difficult to climb, have not been help decision makers taking suitable conservation explored yet. measures and setting sustainable management Almost all the taxa listed here were reported before by strategy of biodiversity of this BEIS. many authors in the Middle Atlas but with no certitude if they exist or not in Tichoukt mountain. So, Maybe, such management needs to change the status we confirm here their presence with a more little of BEIS to a National Park. information concerning ecology and repartition that is detailed for endemic taxa. Reference

From biogeographical view, many special habitats [1] BCEOM-SECA, Etude nationale sur les aires protégées du (especially cliffs and rocks) in the highest altitudes of Maroc. Ministère des Eaux et forêts, Rabat. (1994). the site have favored the maintain of several [2] M. Fennane , M. Ibn Tattou, Flore vasculaire du Maroc : remarkable taxa like the following ones that are inventaire et chorologie. Vol. 1. Trav. Inst. Sci., Sér. Bot. (2005). 37, 483 p., Rabat. endemic, very rare, rare or suspected rare in [3] M. Ibn Tattou, M. Fennane, Flore vasculaire du Maroc : Morocco: inventaire et chorologie. Vol. 2. Trav. Inst. Sci., Sér. Bot. (2008). • Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. reuteri : very rare, 39, 398 p., Rabat. endemic to Morocco [4] A. Achhal , O. Akabli , M. Barbero, A. Benabid, O. Mhirit, C. Peyre, P. Quezel , S. Rivas Martinez, A propos de la valeur • Armeria ebracteata, Arenaria aggregata subsp. dynamique de quelques essences forestières au Maroc. Ecologia mauritanica : very rare, endemic to Morocco and Mediterranea (1980). 5: 211-249. Algeria [4]P. Quézel , M. Barbero, A. Benabid, R. Loisel R, S. Rivas- • Martinez, Contribution à la connaissance des matorrals du Cyanus triumfetti, Arenaria aggregata, Juniperus Maroc Oriental. Phytocoenologia (1992). 21(1-2): 117-174. communis subsp. hemisphaerica, Saxifraga [5] M. Fennane , M. Ibn Tattou, Catalogue des plantes vasculaires longifolia : very rare rares, menacées ou endémiques du Maroc. Bocconea 8, (1998). • Lapiedra martinezii, Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. 243p. [6] M. Lecompte, Biogéographie de la montagne marocaine: le atlantis : very rare, endemic to Morocco and Moyen Atlas central. Mémoires et Doc. de Géogr., nouvelle Iberian Peninsula collection, édit. CNRS, (1986). 202 p., 1 carte en couleur.

[7] M. Lecompte, Seuils biologiques et limites climatiques en Méditerranée occidentale. Revue de géographie de Lyon, (1998). 73, 1: 33-43.

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